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February 20, 2008 - 9:14am.
If Hillary Clinton continues her negative campaign strategy she will compound her own biggest negative among many voters. Many Democrats, even her supporters, consider her to be an egotistical, though capable, hardened political animal who believes she is entitled to be the next president. She recited her latest stump speech lines through a forced smile in Ohio last night after Obama trounced her in Wisconsin. A dozen words congratulating Obama would have been, if nothing more, simple courtesy. What does Isacc Newton have to do with this? Newton's third law (the law of reciprocal actions), rephrased and adapted to apply to the candidates would read whenever Hillary Clinton exerts a negative force on Barak Obama, he simultaneously exerts a force on her with the same magnitude in the positive direction. "This law is often simplified into the sentence "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction". (Wikipedia) Of course in a physical fight this may mean a boxer reeling under a blow with equal and opposite force, and then counter-punching just as hard. If Obama resists the temptation to respond in like kind he can react by ignoring the attack. This is passive resistance, a powerful force in itself. He will demonstrate class, and in contrast Clinton will look strident and ungracious. He can also respond with the utmost courtesy and answer with "I beg to differ with Hillary" or "I regret Senator Clinton feels this way" or a similar phrase. If and when it makes sense he should point out how and why what she said is wrong; but my recommendation is that the less he says in response to attacks with no real substance the better. For example, there's no effective way to respond to her when she attacks him by saying that she'll be ready on day one to be president and by implication saying that he won't. Obama's weakness against both Clinton and McCain is his lack of the usual political experience we've come to expect of our presidential candidates. Perhaps someone removed from his campaign might remind the public that one of our greatest presidents was Abraham Lincoln, whose only elected office was as a U.S. representative for one term. As a lawyer, Obama has him beat hands down, since Lincoln as a lawyer primarily represented the railroads. Obama's life experience is a strong point showing his depth of character and a wisdom beyond his years, but it hasn't resonated with the public. He has been demonstrating that he's ready to be president through his words, and it is by his words that voters will judge him. The pollsters are saying that Clinton's core supporters are now women over the age of 50 or 60. Women who grew up in the 1950s, 1940s and before probably care more about common courtesy than any other group If she comes across as ill-mannered to this group she does so at her peril.
Capitol Hill Blue's columnists, blogs and reader comments Capitol Hill Blue is an independent, non-partisan news site that belongs to no political party and subscribes to no political or philosophical point-of-view. Our columnists are welcome to their opinions but readers should understand that their views do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies of this web site. We also welcome comments to selected opinion columns and in our popular ReaderRant discussion forum. Please remember, however, that we believe in civility on this web site and comments may be reviewed, moderated or removed if we feel they contain obscenities, racism, bigotry, anti-Semitic remarks or attack other posters. Our goal is reasoned discussion on issues facing this nation and we do not feel that goal is served by personal attacks and by seeing how many cute adjectives you can attach to an elected official or politician's name. Copyright © 2008 Capitol Hill Blue
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Wonderful comments Hal! I
Submitted by Sandra Price on February 20, 2008 - 9:29am.Wonderful comments Hal! I am a fairly well-educated women way over the age of 50 or 60, I would I could love to kick her in the ass! I can still do it!!
Obama can kill her with kindness and she will never know what hit her! Good points all!
"This is probably the last
Submitted by pollchecker on February 20, 2008 - 9:34am."This is probably the last group of Americans that really care about common courtesy. "
Hal -- The article was great except for the last part. I would be willing to say that women of this group care more about commom courtesy than others which is why Hillary is losing support in this group as well.
I understand why women of this age like Hillary. I like Hillary. But I won't vote for her because I believe she is too polarizing of a figure and I believe that I have been proven repeatedly correct in that conclusion.
I just think women my age have seen how badly men have F****D up our govt and think a woman can do a better job. They are probably right.
I think if Hillary was any other woman, it would be a totally different race. But with the last name Clinton and Bill as a husband, I just don't think she is the right woman for the job at this time in our country's history.
...believes she is entitled
Submitted by Elmo on February 20, 2008 - 10:04am....believes she is entitled to be the next president.
That pretty much says it all. No one thought that she moved to NY to run for the Senate because she felt a calling to represent NY. It has always been about becoming president.
"No one thought that she
Submitted by pollchecker on February 20, 2008 - 10:22am."No one thought that she moved to NY to run for the Senate because she felt a calling to represent NY. "
well, if you're making a career in politics, in order to be successful, you have to make the right choices. I don't fault her for that.
I think the media's and the pundits heavily contributed to this air of inevitability. But the election is proving that the American people have some different ideas on that.
I think history shows that the American people have always been looking for a leader when choosing a president. With the political divisions that we have today, that leader is seen as someone who can reach across party lines. That isn't the way the public perceives the Clintons and the more negative she gets, the more she plays right into that perception of divisiveness.
For months now, we've heard her talk about staying on the issues and not going negative. Now that she is losing momemtum, what happened? The public can plainly see this as playing politics and that's now what they want which explains why caucasian men are choosing Obama over Clinton.
Women especially older women understand that if you want to play with and beat the big boys, you gotta be tough and be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Success has not come easy to the group of women Hal referenced as they were the pioneers of the women's rights movements. They understand the sexism in the work place. They understand the lower pay for the same job. They have been discriminated against regarding their health and even their own bodies by male physicians. They are looking for a champion and they see that in Hillary.
If Hillary is going to turn this around she needs to recast herself as that champion. But negative campaigning is only casting her as the kid who throws a spit ball at you when you are not looking. That is not a champion.
pollchecker, Good point,
Submitted by Hal Brown on February 20, 2008 - 10:21am.pollchecker,
Good point, I made a few changes to the end of the column. Thanks.
that reads so much better.
Submitted by pollchecker on February 20, 2008 - 10:24am.that reads so much better. thanks.
It's really interesting that
Submitted by almandine on February 21, 2008 - 12:44am.It's really interesting that Bill and Hill - to date - have been out-politicked by Obama. They were the consummate pols... BUT - he has really shown them up. Except for his politics, I'm gleeful !
Thanks Hal for the astute
Submitted by Carl Nemo on February 21, 2008 - 3:22am.Thanks Hal for the astute observation concerning Newton's third law relative to the Hillary vs. Obama struggle which is also linked to the martial and extended psychological warfare arts of judo.
Regardless of what techniques he uses, all I care is that he prevails and sends "billary" to the ashbin of political history!
"The use of jū in each of these words is an explicit reference to the martial arts principle of the "soft method" (柔法, jūhō?). The soft method is characterized by the indirect application of force to defeat an opponent. More specifically, it is the principle of using one's opponent's strength against him and adapting well to changing circumstances. For example, if the attacker was to push against his opponent he would find his opponent stepping to the side and allowing his momentum (often with the aid of a foot to trip him up) to throw him forwards (the inverse being true for pulling."...extract from Wiki article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo
Go Obama...Go...!
Carl Nemo **==
Carl, Good example. I
Submitted by Hal Brown on February 21, 2008 - 7:29am.Carl,
Good example. I would go further and specifically suggest Aikido as a martial arts metaphor:
... a synthesis of martial studies, philosophy, and religious
beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying (with) life energy"l or as "the Way of harmonious spirit."
Ueshiba's (the person who devloped it) goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to
defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.
Aikido techniques are normally performed by "blending" with the
motion of the attacker, rather than directly opposing the attack. The
aikidoka (aikido practitioner) redirects the attacker's momentum, using minimum effort, with various types of throws or joint locks.
Wikipedia
Newton's Third Law was the
Submitted by DejaVuAllOver on February 21, 2008 - 2:31pm.Newton's Third Law was the Law of Kharma as applied to physical structures. It's also the Law of Gravity, in a more general formulation. Do Unto Others, Reap what ye Sow, the Law of Kharma, it's all the same. We receive exactly what we give, which is why Hillary is probably toast. The amazing thing about Kharma is the timing, however. Sometimes the interest carries a balloon-payment many years after the fact! I think it's probably not accidental that Hillary's fall seems to coincide with the very peak of her arrogance. Gravity wins, again!
The law of gravity is one
Submitted by Sandra Price on February 22, 2008 - 6:19am.The law of gravity is one that I totally support. Maybe we should add it to the Constitution with an Amendment.
Why amend the constitution?
Submitted by ekaton on February 22, 2008 - 9:42am.Why amend the constitution? Bush would just ignore it anyway.
-- Kent Shaw
You're correct again.
Submitted by Sandra Price on February 22, 2008 - 9:53am.You're correct again.